the same Which was doone at S. Peters Church openlie vpon Palme sundaie being the xix of March 1267. This Bishop Richard in the twelfe yeare of his Bishoprike died and was buried in his owne Church WAlter Bronescome Archdeacon of Surreie was consecrated Bishop of Canturburie vpon passion sundaie anno 1286 vnder Bonifacius then Archbishop he was borne in this citie of Exon and was the sonne of poore parents but he being of a verie towardnesse and good disposition and verie apt to learning they partlie of themselues and partlie by helpe of their friends did put him to schoole and kept him to his booke wherein he prooued and prospered so well that he was verie well learned At the time of his election he was no préest and therefore not capeable of anie such dignitie but immediatlie he tooke that order vpon him and foorthwith was consecrated Bishop all which being doone within fiftéene daies it was counted as for a miracle namelie that he should be elected Bishop then made préest and at last to be consecrated within that space For so manie dignities as they termed it to be cast vpon one man in so short a time had not béene lightlie séene He founded the colledge of Glascin in Perin in Cornewall and endowed the same with faire possessions and reuenewes He purchased the the Barton of Rokesdone and Clist and gaue it to the hospitall of S. Iohns within the Eastgate of the citie of Excester He instituted in his owne Church the feast called Gabrils feast and gaue a péece of land for the maintenance thereof he also did by a policie purchase the Lordship and house of Clist Sachisfield and by a deuise did inlarge the Barton thereof by gaining of Cornish wood from his Deane and chapter and builded then a verie faire and a sumptuous house and called it Bishops Clist which he left to his successors Likewise he got the patronage of Clist Fomeson now called Sowton and annexed the same to his new Lordship which as it was said was in this order He had a frier to be his chapline and confessour which died in his said house of Clist and should haue béene buried at the parish church of Faringdon bicause the said house was and is in that parish but bicause the parish church was somewhat farre of the waies foule and the weather rainie or for some other causes the Bishop willed and commanded the corps to be carried to the parish church of Sowton then called Clist Fomeson which is verie néere and bordereth vpon the Bishops Lordship the two parishes there being diuided by a little lake called Clist At this time one Fomeson a Gentleman was Lord and patron of Clist Fomeson and he being aduertised of such a buriall towards in his parish and a léech waie to be made ouer his land without his leaue or consent required therein calleth his tenants togither and goeth to the bridge ouer the lake betwéene the Bishops land and his and there méeteth the Bishops men bringing the said corps and forbiddeth them to come ouer the water But the Bishops men nothing regarding the same doo presse forthwards to come ouer the water and the others doo withstand and fall at strife about the matter so long that in the end my Lords Frier is fallen into the water The Bishop taketh this matter in such gréefe that a holie Frier a religious man and his owne chaplaine and confessor should so vnreuerentlie be cast into the water that he falleth out with the Gentleman and vpon what occasion I know not he sueth him in the lawe and so vexeth and tormenteth him that in the end he was faine to yéeld himselfe to the Bishops deuotion and séeketh all waies he could to currie the Bishops good will which he could not obteine vntill for his redemption he had giuen and surrendred vp his patronage of Sowton with a péece of land all which the said Bishop annexeth to his new Lordship Thus by policie he purchased the manor of Bishops Clist by a deuise gaineth Cornish wood and by power wresteth the patronage of Sowton This Bishop after he had occupied this sea about xxiij yeares died and was buried in his owne church in a sumptuous toombe of Alablaster PEter Quiuill anno 1281. was consecrated Bishop of this church vnder Iohn Archbishop of Canturburie He first instituted a Chaunter and a Subdeane in his church To the one he impropriated Painton and Chidleigh to the other the rectorie of Egloschaile in Cornewall he was a liberall and a speciall benefactor to the hospitall of S. Iohns in Excester as well in goods as in liuelihoods he first began to enlarge and increase his church from the chauncell downewards and laid the foundation thereof In his time anno 1285. Walter Lichelade the first Chaunter was slaine in a morning as he came from the morning seruice then called the Mattines which was then woont to be said shortlie after midnight Vpon which occasion the king came vnto this citie and kept his christmas in the same and therevpon a composition was made betwéene the Bishop and the citie for inclosing of the churchyard and building of certeine gates there as appéereth by the said composition bearing date in Festo annunciationis beatae Mariae 1286. The king at the sute of the Earle of Hereford who at his being here was lodged in the house of the Graie Friers which then was néere the house of S. Nicholas obteined of the Bishop that they should be remooued from thence to a more wholesome place which was to the place without Southgate whereof after the kings departure grew some controuersie bicause the Bishop refused to performe his promise made to the king This man also impropriated the parish of S. Newleine and the parish of Stoke Gabrell and vnited the same to the office of the Chauncellor of the Cathedrall church and vnder condition that the said chauncellor should continuallie read a lecture within the said citie of diuinitie or of the decretalls and if he should faile to doo this that then it might and should be lawfull to the Bishop to resigne the said parsonages impropriated and to bestowe it at his pleasure as appéereth by the said grant vnder the seales of the said Bishop Deane and Chapter dated the twelfe of the Calends of Maie 1283. This Bishop not long after and in the eleuenth yeare of his Bishoprike died being choaked in drinking of a sirrop anno 1292. and was buried in his owne church The Franciscans or Graie Friers of this citie imputed his death to his hard dealing with them for whereas he had promised the king to prouide a conuenient place for them to build their house in and had willed their warden named Deoditus to séeke out and make inquirie for the same yet notwithstanding when he had so doone bicause the same was in his fée he did swarue from his said promise and did vtterlie denie to performe the same by the persuasion of one Peter Kenefeld a Dominican
was therein blinded and waxed so farre in loue with Aristotle that he preferred him before Moses and Christ. And behold Gods iust iudgement for suddenlie his memorie failed him and he waxed so forgetfull that he could neither call to remembrance anie thing that he had doone neither could he discerne read or know a letter of the booke This Henrie after that he had spent and liued twelue yeares in his Bishoprike he died and lieth buried in the North side of the Chauncell of his church in a verie faire toombe of Marble anno 1206. SImon de Apulia anno 1206. was installed Bishop of this sea of him there remaineth no memoriall at all In his time were famous Ioseph Iscanius and Alexander Neckam the one was verie well learned in the Latine and Gréeke toong and in the liberall sciences the other was Prior of S. Nicholas and was an vniuersall man being a profound philosopher an eloquent orator a pleasant Poet and a déepe diuine In this Bishops time the doctrine of eleuation adoration reseruation and praieng for the dead being established by Pope Honorius the third the parish churches within this citie were limitted anno 1222. In this mans time anno 1212. one Iohannes Deuonius so surnamed bicause he was borne in Deuon being well bent to good studies was much commended for his learning and modestie He was familiar and of great acquaintance with Baldwin Bishop of Canturburie and being made Abbat of Forde was in such fauour with king Iohn that he chose him to be his confessor and chapline he was a writer and compiled diuers bookes which were then accounted of Being dead he was buried in his Abbie the people much lamenting the want of so good a man This Bishop hauing spent xviij yeares died anno 1224. and was buried in his owne church WIlliam Brewer verie shortlie after the death of the foresaid Simon was elected Bishop and consecrated by Stephan Langton Archbishop of Canturburie anno 1224. he was borne and descended of a noble house and parentage being brother to Sir William Brewer knight the husband of the eldest daughter and one of the heires to William de Verona Earle of Deuon and who also was founder of the Abbeis of Tor and of Hartland and of other Monasteries This Bishop so wiselie and so discréetlie behaued himselfe that he was had in great reputation among all men and in speciall fauour with the king for king Henrie hauing giuen his sister Ladie Isabell to wife vnto Frederike the emperour did commend and betake hir to this Bishop to be conueighed and conducted to the emperor And such was the fame and good report spred of him that as he passed through the countries they were from place to place receiued with great honour and being come to the citie of Coleine the Archbishop there did not onelie verie honourablie receiue and entertaine them but also accompanied them vnto the citie of Wormes where the marriage was solemnized When this Bishop had séene the marriage althings performed he tooke his leaue and was dismissed with great presents and honourablie accompanied homewards by the Archbishop and others At his returne he was ioifullie receiued of all the noblemen about the king and most thankfullie by the king himselfe and whom the king vsed as his speciall and most trustie councellor in all his weightie causes This Bishop being come home to his owne house and minding as his predecessors had doone to leaue some good memoriall behind him he made a Deane and constituted xxiiij prebendaries within his church to the one he impropriated Brampton Coliton Rawley for the others he purchased so much land as out whereof he assigned to euerie prebendarie iiij pound by the yeare of these he ordeined his chapter Also in this mans time anno 1240. Gilbert Long and Robert his brother citizens of this citie builded and founded the hospitall of S. Iohns within the East gate of this citie for the sustenance of certeine poore folks called afterwards the poore children of S. Iohns gaue all their lands tenements to the same which was sufficient The yeare following the cell of S. Alexus was remooued and adioined to S. Iohns and then the founders being dead the charge and gouernment of that house was by those founders commended to the Maior of this citie and they thensefoorth were founders patrones thereof Anno 1244. there grew a contention concerning the poore lazer sicke people of the Magdalen without the south gate of this citie whose maner and vsage was then with a clapdish vpon euerie market daie to resort and come to the markets and there to beg euerie mans deuotion but by reason of their sicknesse which was lothsome and abhorred the peoples deuotion waxed short and scant against them as also euerie man murmured against their going and begging at large wherevpon the matter being brought into question betwéene the Bishop and this citie it was concluded that a permutation should be made and that therefore the Bishops should be patrones and haue the gouernment of S. Iohns and the Maior and his successors to be gardians and founders of the hospitall of the Magdalen with a prouiso that the proctor of the Magdalen should on one daie in euerie moneth come with his box to S. Peters Church at the time of seruice and there receiue and gather the deuotion of the canons which is vsed at these presents This poore house remaineth still but the other for want of good fréends was suppressed and dissolued This Bishop after that he had continued in his Church about xix yeares he died anno 1244. and lieth buried in the middle of his owne Church vnder a plaine Marble stone RIchard Blondie 1245. was consecrated and installed Bishop Bonifacius then being Archbishop of Canturburie This Richard was a man of a mild spirit but verie stout against such as in his time did offer anie iniurie to the church and in his old yeares being but a weake man he was much carried and ruled by such as were his officers and about him who taking the oportunitie of the time vsed all the meanes they might to inrich themselues his chéefest officers were one Lodesewell his chancellor Sutton his register Fitzherbert his officiall and Ermestow the kéeper of his seale These with other of the chiefe seruants of the houshold compacted amongst themselues that whilest the Bishop was yet liuing who then laie sicke and verie weake in his bed to make and conuaie vnto themselues conueiances of such liuelihoods as then laie in the Bishops disposition and accordinglie made out aduousons and other such conueiances as to them séemed best all which were foorthwith sealed and deliuered according to the orders among them concluded but these their subtill dealings were not so closelie conueied but that the next Bishop following boulted and found the same out and did not onelie reuerse all their dooings but also did excommunicate them and who were not absolued vntill they had doone their penance for
tooke the other and was consecrated Bishop of Excester vpon the tenth of March 1370. being the feast daie of Nereus and Achilles William of Worcester then Archbishop of Canturburie This Thomas was a man verie well learned and experted both in ecclesiasticall matters and in politike gouernment and in both these respects greatlie reuerenced and estéemed and for that cause at the parliament holden at Westminster in the tenth yéere of K. Richard the second he was chosen to be one of the twelue péeres of the realme vnder the King he was a benefactor to the Calenderhaie of the vicars chorall of his own church and performed and supplied in buildings and otherwise what his predecessors had left vndoone and hauing béene Bishop xxiiij yéeres he died the third of December anno 1394. and was buried in the North side of the bodie of his owne church EDmond Stafford vpon the xx daie of Iune anno 1395. was consecrated at Lambhith by William Courtwaie Archbishop of Canturburie he was borne and descended of noble parentage being brother to Ralph Lord Stafford created Earle of Stafford by K. Edward the third he was both wise and learned for his wisedome he grewe into great credit with the king and was both of his priuie counsell as also Lord Chancellor of England At the parliament holden at westminster the xxj yéere of K. Richard the second he being then speaker of the higher house made a verie learned and pithie oration to prooue the absolute authoritie of a King his theme was Rex vnus erit omnibus and hauing discoursed at large of the authoritie of a king did conclude Quod potestas regis esset sibi sola vnita annexa solida and whosoeuer did by anie meanes impeach the same Paena legis meritò esset plectendus And for the furtherance of good letters he did increase two fellowships in the colledge of Stapledons inne in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and altered the name of it and called it Excester colledge After that he had continued Bishop in much honour about xxiij yéeres he died the fourth of September being the seuenth yéere of King Henrie the fift and lieth buried in his owne church in a verie aire tombe of Alablaster IAmes Carye Bishop of Chester being at Florence when newes was brought to Pope Martin the fift of Bishop Staffords death was then and there made Bishop of this church anno 1419. and also consecrated but long he enioied not his office for there he died and was buried EDmond Lacie Bishop of Hereford was translated from thence vnto this church in the feast of Easter and in the eight yéere of king Henrie the fift anno 1420. he was a man verie deuout and religious but subiect to flatterers who carried him to their pleasure he was a liberall benefactor to the vicar of Calenderhaie great contentions were betwéene him and the citie for liberties which by arbitriment were compounded he founded the chapter house in his owne church He was a professor of diuinitie and very well learned for in the second yéere of his Bishoprike being the ix yeare of the kings reigne there was a parliment holden at Westminster in which great complaints were made against the loose and dissolute life of the religious men and especiall the blacke moonks And this matter being brought to the conuocation house this Bishop as chéefe prolocutor of that assemblie did make a verie learned and a pithie oration before the king then of purpose present and the whole cleargie much lamenting that the religious men were so far straied from the rules of their professions and the holinesse of their predecessors And when he had at large discoursed the same he deliuered vp certeine articles in writing praieng for reformation which his spéeches were so effectuallie vttered and his articles so effectuallie penned that both the king and the clergie did not onelie with great liking and allowance praise and commend the same but also tooke order that there should be a prouinciall Councell called out of hand for a reformation which was then promised but not performed by reason of the kings death which not long after followed but yet in the waie of good spéed it was then concluded and agréed that euerie third benefice being of the gift of anie of the prelats or of anie monasterie should from thencefoorth for seauen yeres be giuen to some scholar of Oxenford or Cambridge This Bishop after he had liued xxxv yeares in this Bishoprike died and was buried in the North wall of the quier in his owne church After whose death manie miracles were said and deuised to be doone at his toombe wherevpon great pilgrimages were made by the common people to the same GEorge Neuell succéeded Edmond Lacie and was consecrated in the feast of S. Katharine anno 1455. he was of a noble parentage being the second sonne of Richard Neuell Earle of Sarisburie he finished and ended the chapter house which his predecessor had begonne And after that he had béene Bishop about ten yeares he was remooued to Yorke and made Archbishop there anno 1465. IOhn Bothe after the translation of George Neuell to Yorke was consecrated Bishop vnder Thomas Burscher Archbishop of Canturburie vpon the xxij of Februarie anno 1466. He was by profession a Ciuillian and a Batcheler of the same he gouerned his church verie well and builded as some suppose the Bishops sea in the quier but being wearie of the great troubles which were in this contrie betwéene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwike he remooued from hence to his house of Horsleigh in Hamshire where in the twelfe yeare of his Bishoprike he died vpon the fift daie of Aprill anno 1478. and lieth buried at S. Clements in London PEter Courtnaie immediatlie after the death of Bothe was presented to this Bishopricke and consecrated by Thomas Archbishop of Canturburie in Nouember anno 1477. at S. Stephens in Westminster he was the sonne of Sir Phillip Courtnaie of Powderham his mother was named Elizabeth daughter to Walter Lord Hungerford he for his wisedome and good behauiour was in great credit and fauour with king Henrie the seauenth by whose meanes he was translated from this church vnto Winchester in the ninth yeare of his being Bishop here and in the fift yeare of his being there he died vpon the xx of December anno 1491. and lieth buried in his owne church He finished the North tower of S. Peters and gaue the clocke bell which is in the same and which beareth the name Peter RIchard Fox vpon the remoouing of Peter Courtnaie was consecrated Bishop of this church vnder Thomas Archbishop of Canturburie 1466. he was a verie wise man and in great credit and estimation with king Henrie the seauenth vnto whom he was a faithfull counsellour and of his priuie Councell with whom he acquainted himselfe at Paris when he was there a student For king Henrie then Earle of Richemond being at Venice and aduertised how the
matrone his house and houshold another church in which was exercised all godlinesse and vertue No one person being in his house which did not from time to time giue an account of his faith and religion and also did liue accordinglie and as he had a care for the good successe in religion so had he also for the direction of the gouernment in ecclesiasticall causes and bicause he he was not skilfull therein neither would be hindered from his godlie studies and be incombred with such worldlie matters which neuerthelesse he would haue be doone in all vprightnes iustice and equitie he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his Chancellor and by the ministerie of the writer hereof he procured and obteined one Maister Robert weston Doctor of the ciuill lawe and afterwards Lord Chancellor of Ireland vnto whom he committed his consistorie and the whole charge of his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction allowing vnto him not onelie all the fées therevnto apperteining but also lodged and found him his wife familie horse and man within his owne house and gaue him a yéerelie pension of xl pound And surelie the Bishop was no more godlie and carefull of his part concerning preaching but this man also was as diligent and seuere in dooing of his office without reproch of being affectionated or corrupted And notwithstanding this good man now a blamelesse Bishop and liued most godlie and vertuous yet the common people whose old bottels would receiue no new wine could not brooke nor digest him for no other cause but bicause he was a preacher of the Gospell an enimie to papistrie and a married man Manie deuises were accompted against him for his confusion sometimes by false suggestions sometimes bp open railings and false libelles sometimes by secret backbitings and in the end practised his death by impoisoning but by the prouidence of God the snares were broken and he deliuered After that he had béene Bishop about thrée yéeres K. Edward died and then Quéene Marie hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued And notwithstanding the malice of the Prelats and archpapists was most bitter against him and who had sworne his death yet by the goodnesse of God he was most miracouslie preserued and deliuered from out of their hands at the sute and by the meanes of the king of Denmarke who so earnestlie sewed and so often wrote to the Quéene for him that he was deliuered and sent vnto him with whom after that he had staied a while he went againe into Germanie vnto the Palsegraue who most louinglie receiued him placed him againe in his former benefice of Burghsaber where he continued vntill the death of Q. Marie And then the preaching of the Gospell being againe receiued and hauing a frée passage he returned into England but would neuer returne to his Bishoprike notwithstanding it was reserued for him and sundrie times offered him but liued a priuate life continuing in London preaching and teaching the Gospell so long as the strength of his bodie would permit and at length being verie old and striken in yéeres he died and was honourablie buried at S. Magnus church in London IOhn Voiseie after the depriuation of Miles Couerdale was restored to this church and for the better setling of the Romish religion did here staie for a while but his mind was adicted to his own countrie that he returned thither and made his onelie abode there practising there what he could to haue the making of kersies to come to seme effect but the same being more chargeable than profitable came to small effect this man being verie old died in his owne house with a pang and was buried in his parish church there anno 1555. IAmes Troblefield succéeded Bishop Voiseie and was consecrated anno 1556. he was a gentleman borne and of a good house verie gentle and courteous he professed diuinitie but most zelous in the Romish religion yet nothing cruell nor bloodie And yet that he might not séeme to doo nothing he was contented to prosecute and condemne a giltles poore séelie woman named Agnes Pirest for religion heresie who was burned in Southingham for the same it was laied to hir charge as dooth appéere by an inditement taken at Launceston Die lunae in quarta septimana quadragesimae anno Philippi Maria secundo tertio before William Stanford then iustice of the assise that she should denie the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar and that the same was but a signe and a figure of Christs bodie and that none dooth eate reallie the bodie of Christ but spirituallie He was verie carefull to recouer some part of the lands of his Bishoprike which his predecessor wasted and did obteine of Q. Marie to him and to his successors the fée ferme of the manor of Crediton After that he had béene Bishop about two yeares Q. Marie died and he was depriued and liued after a priuate life WIlliam Alleie in the second yeare of Q. Elizabeth was chosen Bishop and installed the sixt of August 1561. In all Q. Maries time which were called the Marian daies he trauelled from place to place in the North countrie where he was not knowne and sometimes by practising of phisick and sometimes by teaching of scholers he picked out a poore liuing for himselfe and his wife and so continued being not knowne to haue béene a préest during all Q. Maries time after whose death he went to London and there did reade diuinitie lecture in Paules verie learnedlie and to his great commendation and from whence he was taken and made Bishop of this citie He was verie well learned vniuersallie but his chéefe studie and profession was in diuinitie and in the toongs And being Bishop he debated no part of his former trauels 〈◊〉 spent his time verie godlie and vertuous Vpon euerie holie daie for the most part he preached and vpon the wéeke daies he would and did reade a lecture of diuinitie the residue of his time and frée from his necessarie businesse he spent in his priuate studies and wrote sundrie bookes whereof his prelections or lectures which he did reade in Paules and his poore mans librarie he caused to be imprinted the like he would haue doone with his Hebrue grammar and other his works if he had liued He was well stored and his librarie well replenished with all the best sort of writers which most gladlie he would impart and make open to euerie good scholar and student whose companie and conference he did most desire and imbrace he séemed to the first apparance to be a rough and an austere man but in verie truth a verie couetous gentle and an affable man at his table full of honest spéeches ioined with learning and pleasantnesse according to the time place and companie All his exercises which for the most part was at bowles verie merrie and pleasant void of all sadnesse which might abate the benefit of recreation loth to offend readie to forgiue void of malice full of loue bountifull in hospitalitie liberall to the poore and a succourer of the néedie faithfull to his fréend and courteous to all men a hater of couetousnesse and an enimie to all euill and wicked men and liued an honest a godlie and vertuous life Finallie he was indued with manie notable good gifts and vertues onelie he was somewhat credulous and of a hasty beléefe and of light credit which he did oftentimes mislike and blame in himselfe in his latter time he waxed somwhat grosse and his bodie full of humors which did abate much of his woonted exercises and hauing béene Bishop about eight yeares he died the first of Aprill 1570. and was buried in his own church WIlliam Bradbridge Deane of Sarisburie was the next Bishop consecrated at Lambhith by Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canturburie the 18. of March 1570. he was a professor of diuinitie but not taken to be so well grounded as he persuaded himselfe he was zelous in religion but not so forwards as he was wished to be in his latter daies he delighted to dwell in the contrie which was not so much to his liking as troublesome to his cleargie to such as had any sutes vnto him it was thought he died verie rich but after his death it prooued otherwise he died suddenlie no bodie being about him at Newton ferris the ninth yeare of his Bishopprike vpon the xxix of Iulie 1578. and was buried in his owne church IOhn VVolton now liuing next after Bradbridge was called to be Bishop of the sea and consecrated at Lambhith by Edmond Grendall Archbishop of Canturburie in August 1579. He is a professor of diuinitie and a preacher of the Gospell and vniuersallie séene in all good letters great good things are looked and hoped for at his hands and that he being now made a watchman ouer the house of Israel and a shéepheard ouer the Lords flocke to be a minister of the Gospell and a disposer of Gods holie mysteries will attend the same and performe the office of a true Bishop in preaching in season and out of season not by constraint or slowlie but willinglie and gladlie not for filthie lucre but of a readie mind by leading an vnreprooueable life to be example of good works in all sobrietie patience gentlenes and integritie And that he liuing thus godlie in this life may not onlie haue a good report to the posteritie but also looke for the blessed hope and appéering of the glorie of God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that when he shall present himselfe and his talent the people of God before the high and chéefe shepheard they may all enter into the Lords ioie and receiue an incorruptible crowne of glorie FINIS